Archives for November 2009

Two Greenville protesters locked themselves to a generator headed for Duke Energy’s Cliffside Coal Plant in Rutherford County, North Carolina.Protesters are vowing not to let the 1.5 million pound generator, which has traveled across South Carolina on a 300-foot trailer, reach the coal plant.

The controversial coal plant would emit over six million tons of carbon dioxide every year and Duke energy is seeking to raise electricity rates to pay for Cliffside despite a recession that has made it difficult for some families to put food on the table. [Read more…]

The body of a man who is believed to have jumped from an I-26 bridge earlier this month has been found. Joshua Dawsey, age 30, of Columbia was found by a man kayaking in the Broad River on Sunday. Dawsey had been missing since November 16th.

Authorities had found Dawsey’s car at the I-26 bridge nearly 2 weeks ago and officials speculated that Dawsey had jumped, but until the body was recovered there was no confirmation. The body was found in the river caught in debris up from the Gervais Street Bridge.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says he is treating the case as an apparent suicide but has not made a final ruling until autopsy reports are received.

A patriotic tree planting was held Monday afternoon at Ft. Jackson to mark this year’s Arbor Week. The Midlands Arbor Day Committee, Ft. Jackson’s Commanding General, Brigadier General Bradley W. May, and other dignitaries were on hand to plant two live oaks honoring those soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Liz Gilland, Program Coordinator for the Community Forestry Program with the SC Forestry Commission says, “What better way to honor them and their service and support to our country than by planting a tree. A tree provides so many benefits -not only aesthetically, but gives us shade, helps with storm water run-off, and air quality and these two trees will stand at this particular traffic circle as a reminder to all the folks who serve for us.”

State Attorney General Henry McMaster was in Charleston Monday to tour the possible future site for detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. President Obama ordered for the prison to be closed at the end of the year, sending those foreign terrorists to American soil. McMaster says Charleston is not the place.

“No. They ought to stay at Guantanamo Bay, that facility was set up for exactly this kind of thing. We’ve got brigs and prisons in the United States, but none of them are as hardened as Guantanamo Bay is, and all of them in the country are located next to some kind of civilian population somewhere, including the Navy Brig here in Charleston,” says McMaster. [Read more…]

North Carolina begins enforcing a ban on text messaging while driving Tuesday. As for neighboring South Carolina, one legislator has filed a legislation to do the same thing. State Representative Bakari Sellers wants to ban cell phone use while driving.

“My goal is just to make the roads safer. I think we all deserve that and I think those who don’t, that’s pretty selfish on their part,” says Sellers. [Read more…]

If you plan to drive across the border into North Carolina, you might want to think twice before texting on your cell phone.

On Tuesday, North Carolina will begin enforcing a ban on text messaging while behind the wheel. A new law will go into effect that makes it illegal for drivers to send or read text messages while driving.

Violations could cost one hundred dollars in fines; however, the law only applies while the vehicle is moving, not while stopped or parked.

Police officers and other safety officials are exempt from the law. More than a dozen states already ban text messages while driving.

Bamberg County Representative Bakari Salters has filed legislation for next year that would ban texting by drivers in South Carolina.

President Barack Obama plans a Tuesday night speech from West Point, N.Y. At that time Obama is expected to announce an increase of up to 35,000 troops to the military personnel already deployed in Afghanistan. One supporter of the move to increase the troops in the war torn country is South Carolina Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham is a member of the Armed Services Committee. Appearing on “ABC News This Week” Sunday, Graham said the future of the country’s national security depends on getting it right in Afghanistan.”

“This is the place where the Taliban took control after the Russians left and aligned themselves with Al Qaeda and attack this nation and killed 3,000 Americans. I hope the President will tell the world, our troops and anybody listening Tuesday that will never happen again.” [Read more…]

A new housing market reports says the Lowcountry is leading South Carolina in recovery efforts from the recession. The South Carolina Housing Market Report, a University of South Carolina publication, shows the Lowcountry had one of the hardest hit housing markets during the recession, but now is leading in the state’s recovery efforts.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reports the Lowcountry has low unemployment compared to most of the state, and also high construction levels, up 61 percent year-to-date. Overall, the report shows South Carolina making a slow and steady recovery in the coming months, with the Charleston area leading the pack.

For the state, high unemployment numbers are expected to still trigger foreclosures leading to, what the report says, “increased housing inventory and further reduction in housing prices.” The South Carolina Association of Realtors and the Home Builders Association of South Carolina also assisted in the report.

President Obama plans an address to the American public Tuesday concerning the war in Afghanistan. He is expected to grant military leaders’ request of a troop increase.

Polls show support for the war has dropped significantly since Obama took office. A majority in some polls now say that they oppose the war and that it is not worth fighting.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina told CNN he has been praying for the President.

“I applaud him for taking his time with this decision,” says Clyburn. “This is something he must be comfortable with, irrespective of what the polls may be saying. President Obama on Tuesday night will take possession of this conflict in Afghanistan and he must comfortable with the direction that it takes.” [Read more…]